Notes: This is the first time Goodyear has brought this specific combination of
left- and right-side tires to the track . . . while the left-side code will be
the same for teams in all three NASCAR series at Atlanta, Nextel Cup teams will
be running a different right-side code (D-4080) to account for their smaller
fuel cell . . . this is the only track at which these codes will be used in 2007
. . . the important factors in designing a tire setup for Atlanta are the high
speeds and loads, as well as the relatively rough track surface . . . as on all
NASCAR ovals greater than one mile in length, teams are required to run inner
liners in all four tire positions at Atlanta . . . air pressure in those inner
liners should be 12-25 psi greater than that of the outer tire.

QUALIFYING, PRACTICE and RESULTSnews and links

Johnson wins at Atlanta: #48-Jimmie Johnson won the Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway for his 2nd win of the 2007 season, 25th career win and 2nd in a row. The win was also the 151st for Hendrick Motorsports. #20-Stewart finished 2nd, followed by #17-Kenseth, #31-Burton, #42-Montoya, #07-Bowyer, #99-Edwards, #1-Truex Jr., #41-Sorenson and #01-Martin. Pole sitter #12-Newman, after going to the rear at the start of the race, never ran up front and finished 23rd, down 1 lap. #8-Earnhardt Jr finished 14th; #9-Kahne crashed late in the race and finished 39th and is now 36th in drivers points. #01-Martin has an 8 point lead over #24-Jeff Gordon after 4 races. There were 6 cautions for 27 laps and 13 drivers lead the race with 31 lead changes.Race Results on my Atlanta Race Results/Awards Page.Points Standings on my Drivers/Owners Points after Atlanta page.(3-18-2007)

Rumblings - Atlanta Race Notes: Jimmie Johnson passed Tony Stewart (and crowded him a bit) with three to go today at Atlanta Motor Speedway and went on to win the Kobalt Tools 500. Coming from third on the final restart with 11 laps remaining, Johnson captured his second win in a row, his 2nd at Atlanta, and the 25th Nextel Cup victory of his career (he's now tied with Jim Paschal & Joe Weathersley for 23rd on the all-time win list). This was win #151 for Hendrick Motorsports, it was their 9th at Atlanta, and it was worth $233,261 from the over $4.9M in posted awards.
Juan Pablo Montoya (5th) had his career-best finish today. His previous best was 19th at Daytona last month.
Reed Sorenson (9th) had his best finish since he was 8th at Michigan last August.
Mike Bliss (21st) had his best finish since he was 12th at Homestead in November of 2005 (only seven races).
STREAKIN....Jimmie Johnson has 9 Top-10's in the last 10 races.
Mark Martin has 5 Top-10's in the last 6 races. Matt Kenseth has 4 Top-10's in the last 5 races.
This Week's Elevator....UP: Operator of the Week is Jeff Burton (+28 ), followed by Jamie McMurray (+22). DOWN: The Big Dropper was Scott Riggs (-33), followed by Kasey Kahne (-27), Kyle Busch (-24), and Ryan Newman (-22). A relatively quiet "Shaft" today.
Next week will be crucial as far as the Top-35 in Owner Points (and the qualifying exemption it carries with it) is concerned. No team from 29th on back can breathe easy right now, and we've got some well-funded teams on the outside looking in at the present. Paul Menard (#15) is 36th on the list, just 9 points back....and teams like Kasey Kahne's, the Wood Brothers, Dave Blaney's, Brian Vickers', and Scott Riggs' need to run good seven days hence. The best move forward today came from Clint Bowyer (17th to 9th), while Greg Biffle (15th to 26th) fell the most spots.(Stock Car Fans)(3-18-2007)

Race Notes - Atlanta:
.. Jimmie Johnson won the Kobalt Tools 500, his 25th victory in 187 Nextel Cup Series races.
.. This is his second victory and third top-10 finish in 2007 – all top-threes and all in the past three races.
.. This is his second victory and eighth top-10 finish in 12 races at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
.. Tony Stewart finished second as Johnson and Stewart reversed their finishes at Atlanta last fall. Stewart has posted 11 top-10 finishes in 17 races at Atlanta, all in the past 12 races here.
.. Matt Kenseth finished third, this third top-five finish in his last four races at Atlanta.
.. Brian Vickers led laps 89 through 91, the first laps led by a Toyota in a Nextel Cup Series race.(NASCAR Statistics)(3-18-2007)

RACE RUNDOWN

(as I cover the race on my racepage every race, then correct after race)

Who got a lap back on each caution? the Lucky Dog:(and their finish)Caution 6: #24-Gordon, 12thCaution 5: #29-Harvick, 25thCaution 4: #43-Labonte(2), 16thCaution 3: none awarded, #10-Riggs would had been, but caused the cautionCaution 2: #43-Labonte, 16thCaution 1: #45-Petty, 34th
See past races, rules, news and who has used the most Lucky Dog passes on myLucky Dog page.

RACE/PIT NOTES: (as noted heard on TV or Radio)
---- during the 6th caution, #20-Stewart came in first and came out first during the pit stops, #48-Johnson came in 2nd out out 3rd, with #17-Kenseth taking 2nd by half a car length.
---- during the 5th caution, #20-Stewart came in first and came out first during the pit stops.
---- on lap 260, #29-Harvick is running down a cylinder.
---- on lap 248, #9-Kahne came back on the track after the crew made repairs due to the lap 232 wreck, #00-Reutimann came out a few laps later
---- during the 4th caution, #24-Gordon made another pit stop to have the right fender looked at and the crush panel fixed, then was caught speeding on pit road, so Gordon will go to the end of the longer line at the restart, then went down a lap while the crew worked on the car some more.
---- during the 3rd caution, #2-Busch was caught speeing on pit road and will head to the end of the longer line at the restart, Busch came in to the pits in 7th place.
---- on lap 217, #10-Riggs is reporting his motor is down a cylinder
---- around lap 200 during the green flag stops, #44-Jarrett, who was 2 laps down, was caught twice for speeding off pit road and lost 3 more laps
---- on lap 190, teams are starting to make scheduled green flag pit stops. #8-Earnhardt Jr. cmae in on lap 191, #48-Johsnon came in on lap 192, leader #24-Gordon came in on lap 193 and had some problems with his stop on the right front as the wheel would not go on, Gordon came out 7th.
---- as of lap 164, #2-Busch is reporting the engine temp is running high, there was paper on the grill, once it came off, the temp went to normal
---- during the 2nd caution, all the lead lap cars came back in for pit stops. #48-Johnson came in 1st and came out leading, #20-Stewart came in 5th and came out 17th as a lug nut fell off the stud.
---- on lap 133, leader #48-Johnson came in for his green flag spot, #41-Sorenson led a lap then came in to pit, #22-Blaney took the lead, then #83-Vickers took the lead, then #48-Johnson cycled back into the lead on lap 137.
---- scheduled green flag pit stops started around lap 128 with #2-Busch and #99-Edwards coming in, #8-Earnhardt Jr. came in on lap 130
---- on lap 119, #2-Busch fell back, is feeling a vibration, green flag pit stops should start around lap 125-128 range
---- around lap 80, regular scheduled pit stops started with #2-Busch coming in, leader #48-Johnson came in on lap 88
---- on lap 79, #12-Newman came in for a pit stop and lost a lap.
---- on lap 77, #10-Riggs made an unscheduled pit stop with a vibration and the crew changed all 4 tires, Riggs went down a lap.
---- on lap 66, PRN reported that #16-Biffle is possibly having some sort of electrical problem.
---- PRN is reporting the #83-Vickers car is down on power, the crew went under the hood to take a look on the 1st caution pit stop.
---- on lap 51, leader #20-Stewart got back past #5-Busch, putting him down a lap, the only car currently down a lap.
---- on lap 42, after the restart #5-Busch raced his way back on the lead lap.
---- all lead lap cars came into pit during the 1st caution, #48-Johnson came in leading, #24-Gordon came out in 1st. #10-Riggs and #43-Labonte reported tire problems after the pit stop
---- on lap 19 #5-Busch made an unscheduled pitstop, with a vibration, a loose wheel on the left rear, Busch lost a lap
---- weather = party sunny, 54° track temp 96° wind N 5-10mph
---- green flag at 2:27pm/et by Brian Demers, Manager Applied Design
---- command to start engines at 2:16pm/et by Grand Marshal Larry Stone, President and COO Lowe's
---- To The Back [1]: #12-Newman [engine change]; #83-Vickers [engine]; #66-Greens [transmission]

Newman to the back: #12-Ryan Newman's team changed engines after practice Saturday morning at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Newman won the pole, his 7th at AMS on Friday [tying Buddy Baker for the most all-time at the track]. Newman will start the Kobalt Tools 500 from the rear on Sunday, but is still credited the Budweiser Pole, his 38th of his career. See more on the 2008 Bus Shootout, pole records and more on my 2008 Bud Shootout page.(from SPEED's Busch Series Qualifying coverage)(3-17-2007)

Newman wins pole at Atlanta: #12-Ryan Newman won the Budweiser Pole for the Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway with a speed of 193.124mph for his 1st pole of 2007, 1st in 22 races, 7th pole at Atlanta and 38th of his career. The rest of the top-10 are #19-Sadler, #48-Johnson, #01-Martin, #24-Gordon, #43-Labonte, #40-Stremme, #5-Busch, #49-Bliss [best of the non Top-35 teams] and #10-Riggs. #00-Reutimann was the highest qualifying Toyota at 24th [4 of 7 Toyota's made the race] and the best Ford qualifier was #99-Edwards who will start 14th. The non-top 35 teams that made the race were: #49-Bliss, #13-Nemechek, #15-Menard, #00-Reutimann, #70-Sauter, #14-Marlin, #83-Vickers and #44-Jarrett [using a past champions provisional]. See the qualifying results, starting lineup, pole propgression on the Starting Grid/Qualifying Results and Order.(3-16-2007)

Ramblings - Atlanta Qualifying Notes: If we're in Atlanta, it can only be Ryan Newman on the pole. Newman blistered a cold Atlanta Motor Speedway in 28.707 (193.124 mph) to take the Bud Pole by almost 2/10th's of a second over Elliott Sadler for Sunday's Kobalt Tools 500. This is the 7th top-spot at AMS for Newman and the 38th overall in his Nextel Cup career (he's now tied for 13th all-time with Herb Thomas & Tim Flock)....but first since Loudon last July. Ryan is the 4th different pole winner in 4 races this season.
Bobby Labonte (6th) has his best starting spot since he lined up 3rd at Bristol last August.
Mike Bliss (9th) makes his first race of the season. This is his best starting spot since he qualified 6th at Texas in November of 2005.
David Reutimann (24th) has his career-best starting spot this weekend. His previous best was 26th at Lowe's Motor Speedway in October of 2005.
Johnny Sauter (26th) has his best starting spot since he timed in 14th at Lowe's last May (only four races).
STREAKIN....David Stremme has 3 Top-10 starts in the last 4 races.(Stock Car Fans)(3-16-2007)

Qualifying Notes:
Ryan Newman won the Bud Pole for the Kobalt Tools 500, his 38th Bud Pole 192nd career Nextel Cup races.
.. This is his first start better than 19th in 2007 and his first Bud Pole since New Hampshire last July.
.. This is Newman’s seventh Bud Pole at Atlanta Motor Speedway. He posted six straight Bud Poles here, sweeping 2003 through 2005. Newman has started from the top 10 in 10 of his 11 Atlanta races, including nine starts from the front row.
.. There have been four different Bud Pole winners in the first four races of 2007.
.. Seventy-four of the 95 Nextel Cup races at Atlanta have been won from the top-10 starting positions, including nine of the last 12.
.. Mike Bliss was the fastest of the 16 drivers that had to make the field on time and qualified for his first race of 2007. His last race was at Homestead in the 2006 season finale.
.. None of the three races this season have been won by a top-10 starter. The best start by a race winner to this point in 2007 is 23rd by Jimmie Johnson at Las Vegas.
.. Only six of the 30 top-10 starters have finished in the top 10 in the first three races of 2007.(NASCAR Media)(3-16-2007)

If it is the first 5 races of the season, the previous season OWNERS points are used:

#1) - Previous season Owner Points [position 1-35][top 35 teams do NOT need to attempt ALL the races]
#2) - Race winners from the previous and current season not already in the field
#3) - ALL Past Nextel Cup Champions not in by 1 or 2
#4) - Current season Owner Points [Top 35][not in by rules 1-3]
#5) - Current season race attempts ties broken by current owners points standings [not in by rules 1-4]

After the 5th race of the season, the current season OWNERS points are used:
#1) - First 35 by current Owner Points [position 1-35][top 35 teams do NOT need to attempt ALL the races]
#2) - Last Years Cup Champ or the Event Champion if not already in the field
#3) - Car Owners whose team has won in the previous and current season not already in the field
#4) - Drivers who have won in the previous and current season not already in the field
#5) - ALL Past Nextel Cup Champions not in by 1 thru 4
#6) - Qualifying Attempts with Owners points as the tie breaker
#7) - Qualifying Order Position
(all above apply as long as the team was entered by the entry deadline - usually 7-13 days before the race)

Determining Race Line-Ups - Top 35 Guarantee: At the start of the 2005 season, NASCAR instituted a new procedure for establishing the starting race field in the Nextel Cup Series [NNCS]. NASCAR revamped the system by simplifying the procedure with teams no longer accruing provisionals throughout the season to gain entry into the starting fields. While starting positions one through 42 in the NNCS still will be determined by qualifying speed, the new system will assure the highest-ranked 35 positions of the NNCS OWNER [not Driver] championship points that have entered the event prior to the entry deadline [usually 13 days before the day of the race] one of those starting positions in the field, providing they have made an attempt to qualify [which usually means the team at least practiced and made an effort to qualify]. The team does NOT have to attempt all the races, just be in the top-35 in OWNERS Points.
The remaining seven positions [36-42] will be assigned to those drivers with the fastest qualifying speeds whose car owners are not among the top 35. The final starting position [43rd] – the champion’s provisional – can be utilized by a car owner whose driver is a current or past Nextel Cup champion who participated as a driver during the current of previous season and was entered in the event for that owner in that car prior to the entry deadline.
If there is more than one series champion vying for the position, it will be given to the most recent series champion. If the final provisional starting position – 43rd in the Nextel Cup – is not filled by a current or past series champion, it will be assigned to the next eligible car owner according to qualifying results.
Through the first five races of the season for the Nextel Cup, the top 35 in the NNCS of the previous owner championship points entered in the event prior to the entry deadline will be assured one of the 42 starting positions in the field, provided they have made an attempt to qualify. From the sixth race on, the current owner championship points will be used to determine the top 35 each race week. In the event that conditions prevent qualifying from being run, starting positions will be assigned according to the respective series’ current Rule Book.(NASCAR PR)Simple: so the field is set by speed to where the 7th fastest non-top 35 driver is on speed. The any drivers in the top35 of OWNERS [not drivers points] are placed to the 42nd spot. The 43rd spot is used for the most recent past Cup champion NOT already in the field from being in the top-35 in owners points or one of the seven no top-35. If their is not past champ for the 43rd spot, it goes to the next fastest [8th fastest driver]

Past Champions Limited To 6 Provisional Berths in Cup: NASCAR announced an update to the past champion’s provisional rule in the Nextel Cup Series for 2007. Beginning this season, a past champion’s provisional may be used by an eligible driver a maximum of six times over the course of the season. In addition, a team with a past champion eligible driver may only use this provisional a maximum of six times during a season. Previously, there was no limit on usage of the past champion’s provisional over the course of the 36-race season. The provisional gives the eligible driver the 43rd and final starting position in the race field. "As NASCAR seeks to place more emphasis on competition, we have decided the time is right to limit the number of provisionals allowed,” said NASCAR Vice President of Competition Robin Pemberton. “We believe this revision brings the provisional policy in line with the continued growth of the sport.”(NASCAR PR)
This is only for a team/driver OUTSIDE the top-35 in owners points, drivers whose team is in the top-35 in owners points, would already be guaranteed in the field and not need the Past Champions Provisional.(1-31-2007)
See my 2007 Past Champions Provisional Page for more.(2-8-2007)

How to Calculate Track Speeds: use the formula Speed = Distance divided by Time. Distance is Track Length, and Lap Time into Hours. Once hour is 3600 seconds, so the calculation for a 48 second lap at Daytona(2.5 miles) would be: Speed = 2.5 x (3600/48), = 2.5 x 75 = 187.500mph. For a 19 second lap at Bristol(.533 miles): Speed = .533 x (3600/19), = .533 x 189.474 = a speed of 100.990mph

How to break a tie during qualifying? (same speed/time) When drivers are tied for a starting spot during qualifying, it is broken by owners points standings(not drivers).

Season Nuggets
Mark Martin is the only driver to score a top-five finish in each of the first three races this season.
Mark Martin and Jeff Gordon are the only drivers to score top-10 finishes in each of the first three races this season.
Matt Kenseth leads all drivers with 20 bonus points.
Kyle Busch, Matt Kenseth and Mark Martin have led laps in all three races this year.

Atlanta Tidbits
There have been 95 Nextel Cup races at Atlanta Motor Speedway.
There have been two races a year at Atlanta, except for 1961 which had a third event, the 250-mile Festival 250.
There has been one 250-mile event, one 300-mile event and six 400-mile events. The rest were all 500-mile races.
Richard Petty holds the record for most Atlanta starts with 65.
Kasey Kahne is the defending champion at the March 2006 race at Atlanta; Tony Stewart won the 2006 October race at Atlanta.
Dale Earnhardt had nine wins and 26 top-five finishes at Atlanta, most of any driver.
Buddy Baker holds the record for Budweiser Poles at Atlanta with seven.
Richard Petty has 33 top-10 finishes at Atlanta, most of any driver.
Cale Yarborough led 3,316 laps at Atlanta, most of any driver.
Ryan Newman leads all active drivers with six Budweiser Poles at Atlanta. All of his Budweiser Poles came in the six races between March 2003 and October 2005.
Bobby Labonte leads all active drivers with six Atlanta wins.
Baker posted three consecutive poles at Atlanta between the spring of 1979 and spring 1980 and is the only driver other than Newman to win more than two poles in a row there.

Atlanta has produced three of the 11 closest finishes since electronic scoring was introduced in May of 1993:
On 3/11/01, Kevin Harvick defeated Jeff Gordon by .006 seconds – third closest
On 3/12/00, Dale Earnhardt defeated Bobby Labonte by .010 seconds – fifth closest
On 3/20/05, Carl Edwards defeated Jimmie Johnson by .028 seconds – tied for 11th closest

Atlanta is the third fastest track on the Nextel Cup Series circuit based on the qualifying lap of 197.478 mph by Geoffrey Bodine after the track re-configuration in 1997. Since that time the speeds on Atlanta have dropped slightly but the track remains one of the fastest on the circuit. In 2006, the qualifying speed at Atlanta was the second-fastest of the year with a lap of 192.553 posted by Kasey Kahne in the spring qualifying – lagging only the 196.235 mph turned by Brian Vickers at Texas Motor Speedway.
Eight of the last 10 races at Atlanta have been won from a top-10 starting position (Last October’s winner, Tony Stewart, won from the 11th position).
Last year’s winner, Kasey Kahne, won the race from the Budweiser Pole. It was the 14th time that has happened at Atlanta.
Bobby Labonte won the 2001 NAPA 500 from the 39th starting position – the deepest in the field that a race winner has started at Atlanta.
The Wood Brothers lead all car owners, scoring 12 victories at Atlanta Motor Speedway (Cale Yarborough, 3; David Pearson, 3; Marvin Panch, 2; Neil Bonnett, 2; A.J. Foyt, 1; Morgan Shepherd, 1).
There have been eight different race winners in the last nine Nextel Cup Series races at Atlanta. Carl Edwards, who swept both races in 2005, is the only repeat winner there since 2002.
Carl Edwards was just the sixth driver to sweep both races at Atlanta since the track opened in 1960.
There have been 12 back-to-back wins at Atlanta.
Three Atlanta races have been shortened by rain: 1962 Atlanta 500; 1982 Coca-Cola 500; 1998 Primestar 500.
Two Atlanta races have been completed on Monday: 1991 Motorcraft Quality Parts 500 and 2005 Golden Corral 500.
Richard Petty leads the all-time list of top-10 finishes at Atlanta with 33 but finished on the lead lap there just 15 times. Dale Earnhardt is second on the all-time top-10 list with 30 and has 26 lead-lap finishes. Dale Jarrett has 18 top-10 finishes there and 18 lead-lap finishes.

Atlanta Streaks
Dale Earnhardt Jr. has three consecutive top-five finishes at Atlanta.
Carl Edwards has scored top-10 finishes in four of his five Atlanta races.
Jeff Gordon has three consecutive top-10 finishes at Atlanta.
Prior to last October’s 36th-place finish, Mark Martin has four consecutive top-5 finishes at Atlanta.
Tony Stewart has three consecutive top-10 finishes and has finished in the top 10 of the last 11 Atlanta races.

Atlanta Weekend March 16-18 Traffic Plan: Due to this weekend's Kobalt Tools 500 race events at Atlanta Motor Speedway, the south side of Atlanta will experience especially heavy traffic flow throughout the weekend. Traffic is expected to be heaviest during
the Friday evening rush hour, as fans head to the track for Georgia Power Qualifying Night, and after 8 a.m. on Sunday (March 18) for the
Kobalt Tools 500. Fans are encouraged to leave early to avoid the rush of traffic expected to reach the race track around 8 a.m. All racetrack-bound roads, especially Hwys.19/41 and Hwy. 20 (Bruton Smith Parkway) will have heavy traffic. For its fans, Atlanta Motor Speedway provides a free shuttle and tram service from all parking lots to each gate. Fans will be shuttled to their seat regardless of where they park.
Basic Traffic Plan for the Kobalt Tools 500 weekend (March 16-18): Fans have a choice of which major route to take, either Hwy. 19/41 or
Hwy. 20 from I-75 southbound. I-75 northbound race fans can exit at either Exit 212 Hampton-Locust Grove Road or Exit 212, Hwy 20. Please choose which route to take based on where you would like to park on property, because fans will be directed to a certain lot based on which way they enter the speedway. Trams, shuttle buses and sidewalks will allow fans to get to their seats easily regardless of where they park on property. Be advised that the direction fans enter speedway property is the same direction they will exit.
Entering the Speedway: From Hwy. 19/41: From the North: Those traveling from the North (traveling southbound on Hwy. 19/41) will be directed to parking lots on the north side of the property and should utilize Speedway Blvd.
Those traveling south on Hwy. 19/41 need to be in the right lane and will turn right at Speedway Boulevard and park in the parking lots off of Speedway Blvd. Those with vehicle credentials need to stay in the left lane and enter the speedway at Entrance G off of Richard
Petty Blvd. From the South: Those traveling in from the South (traveling northbound on Hwy. 19/41 from Griffin) will turn at main speedway entrance and will be directed to parking lots.
From Hwy. 20: Those traveling in on Hwy. 20 will be directed to parking lots on the south side of the property.
For those interested, GRTA will provide express bus service from Avalon Park in McDonough, off I-75 exit 218. Turn right at exit
218, Turn left at the first stop light and Avalon park is located on the left. This express bus service will have a bus depart at 11 a.m., 12
p.m. and 1 p.m. and end two hours after the conclusion of the Kobalt Tools 500.
Fans will leave the same way they came in. If they entered from the North, they will be directed to northbound. Those who enter from the
South will be directed out on the same roads. Only Buses Will Be Allowed To Exit at Entrance E - No Car Traffic Allowed.(AMS PR)(3-16-2007)

Georgia Governor to host March 15 Atlanta Motor Speedway Day at State Capitol: Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue and Sen. John Douglas will host the 5th annual Atlanta Motor Speedway Day on Thursday, March 15 at the Georgia State Capitol. Fans are invited and encouraged to attend and show their support for Atlanta's racing industry. Nextel Cup champion and ESPN analyst Rusty Wallace,
Cup drivers Kevin Harvick and David Ragan, Busch driver Steve Wallace and Craftsman Truck drivers Bill Lester, Chase Miller, Joey Clanton and owner Billy Ballew will be on hand for the day's festivities. The public is invited to attend this midway of activity which will include a fan zone of showcars on Mitchell Street outside the Capitol. Gov. Perdue will host a news conference at 11:45am/et outside the State Capitol. In addition to the NASCAR drivers, Gov. Perdue will show his support for the nationwide NASCAR Day on May 18, 2007.
Atlanta Motor Speedway's two Nextel Cup race weekends contribute an estimated $455 million annually to the Atlanta area economy.
Atlanta's races also attract fans from all 50 states and as many as a dozen nations, while another 10 million fans tune in worldwide.(AMS PR)(3-14-2007)

Spectacular Pre-Race Show Planned for Kobalt Tools 500: When country music sensation Darryl Worley performs a concert, it is typically followed by roaring applause, but Worley will have a different encore when he performs a pre-race concert for the Sunday, March 18 Kobalt Tools 500 Nextel Cup race at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Immediately following Worley's concert, FOX television
racing analyst and former NASCAR crew chief Jeff Hammond will be delivered to the AMS infield dangling 50-feet below a Black Hawk
Helicopter as part of a tribute to America's servicemen and women and in particular, 12 Special Operations Forces Warriors that have recently served in the Middle-East. Also included in the exhibition, conducted by the U.S. Army Special Operations Command, headquartered at MacDill Air Force base in Florida, will be two Little Bird and two Black Hawk helicopters. In addition, 12 U.S. Army Black Dagger skydivers and a Chinook helicopter will offload the official Atlanta Motor Speedway pace car in the infield.
Adding to the pre-race festivities, Oscar winning screenwriter, director and actor Quentin Tarantino and Hollywood actor Kurt Russell will be on-hand interacting with fans prior to the race to promote their upcoming movie "Grind House." For just $1, fans can have their picture taken with Tarantino and Russell. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Speedway Children's Charities.
Great seats are still available for the entire Kobalt Tools 500 Nextel Cup race weekend, including the Nicorette 300 Busch Series race, the American Commercial Lines 200 Craftsman Truck race and Georgia Power Nextel Cup Qualifying. Tickets can be obtained by calling the
Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (877)-9-AMS-TIX or visiting www.atlantamotorspeedway.com. Tickets can also be purchased at the gate, the day of the event.(AMS PR)(3-14-2007)

Limited Trackside Terrace RV Parking Spaces Still Available at AMS: Still available in very limited quantity are trackside RV parking spots overlooking the backstretch of the 1.54-mile quad-oval. The Trackside Terrace RV parking area not only offers a paved premium parking spot, it also comes equipped with water, electric and sewer connections for RVs. Fans interested in purchasing a Trackside Terrace RV parking spot can contact the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (877) 9-AMS-TIX, or visit www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS PR)(3-15-2007)

Atlanta Announces Record Purse for Kobalt Tools 500 Weekend: NASCAR drivers competing in the March 18 Kobalt Tools 500, the March 17 Nicorette 300 and the March 16 American Commercial Lines 200 Craftsman Truck Series races at Atlanta Motor Speedway will be battling for nearly $7 million in posted prize money. The awards for the Nextel Cup, Busch and Craftsman
Truck Series events are part of a $6,609,084 purse announced for the three days of racing that comprise the March 16-18 Kobalt Tools 500 race weekend schedule of events. The weekend will kick off Friday night, March 16 with Georgia Power Nextel Cup Qualifying night, immediately followed by the American Commercial Line 200 Craftsman Truck Series race, where the tough trucks of NASCAR will battle for more than half a million dollars. Racing action will heat up on Saturday, March 17 when the Busch Series regulars try and beat select Nextel Cup drivers in the Nicorette 300, with $1,115,577 up for grabs. On Sunday, the stars of the Nextel Cup series will take on the high banks at Atlanta Motor Speedway in the Kobalt Tools 500, racing for a record purse of $4,957,097. Great seats are still available for the Kobalt Tools 500 race weekend, March 16-18. Contact the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office by calling 877-9-AMS-TIX (877-926-7849), 770-946-4211 or by visiting www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS PR)(3-3-2007)

Nicorette 300 Busch Series Race at Atlanta dedicated to BP: The Nicorette 300 Busch Series Race at Atlanta Motor Speedway on Saturday, March 17th will be dedicated in memory of NASCAR legend Benny Parsons (1941-2007). In celebration of "BP", the Parsons family will be honored and recognized as Grand Marshals of the Nicorette 300. Parsons' brother, Phil Parsons, a former Cup driver and current Speed TV broadcaster will represent the family at the race serving as Grand Marshal. In 2006, Benny Parsons was one of six NASCAR legends to serve as Grand Marshals of the Nicorette 300 alongside Richard Petty, David Pearson, Ned Jarrett, Buddy Baker, and Donnie Allison. Parsons, a supporter of Nicorette's NASCAR smoking cessation programs, was a former smoker himself and had recently accepted an invitation by GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare to serve as Grand Marshal for the 2007 Nicorette 300. The Nicorette 300 is the only NASCAR race to ever be sponsored by a smoking cessation product. To honor Parsons' life, fans attending the Nicorette 300 will take part in a "Celebration of BP" during pre-race ceremonies. Nextel Vision will air a special video montage featuring highlights from Parson's racing and broadcasting career as well as memories from many of his friends within NASCAR. Nextel Cup, Busch, and Craftsman Truck Series racecars will carry a special "BP-72" contingency sticker throughout the Nicorette 300 weekend to remember Parsons and his car number "72." Tickets to the Nicorette 300 NASCAR Busch Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway are available. To order tickets, call (877) 9-AMS-TIX (877-926-7849) or order on-line at atlantamotorspeedway.com.(Lighthouse Marketing PR)(2-28-2007)

Thunder Track Rally at AMS: S&S Cycle, Inc. and Green Flag Marketing, LLC have teamed up to bring "Thunder Track Rally" to Atlanta March 16-18, 2007 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. This first-time event will be one in a series bringing motorcycle riders together with Nextel Cup races. Rally riders can purchase premium ticket packages to the Nextel Cup Series event weekend that includes race tickets, a caravan to Atlanta Motor Speedway, special entrance to the "Thunder Track Rally" hospitality tent, live entertainment, celebrity appearances, food vendors, and more. Packages also include Rally souvenirs (embroidered patch, helmet decal, and hat pin) and secure motorcycle parking. A one-day ticket package is available and includes tickets to the Kobalt Tools 500 Nextel Cup race on Sunday, March 18. Two-day ticket packages are also available and include tickets to the Busch Series Nicorette 300 on Saturday, March 17. For more information visit www.thundertrackrally.com.(PR)(2-28-2007)

Four Tickets for One Low Price at Atlanta: Atlanta Motor Speedway has three spectacular ticket packages available for fans wanting more bang for their buck during the March 16-18 Kobalt Tools 500 Nextel Cup Series race weekend. Starting at just $88, fans can purchase a ticket to all four events at AMS including Georgia Power Nextel Cup qualifying under the lights on Friday, March 16. Immediately following the fastest qualifying session in NASCAR, the toughest trucks on the planet will hit the track for the American Commercial Lines 200 Craftsman Truck Series race. Single day tickets are available, as well as several weekend packages. Other options include the Winners Grandstand in Turn One which provides fans an excellent view of the frontstretch, the exit of pit road and the entrance of Turn One. Sitting high atop the Winners Grandstand is Club One, a club-type atmosphere providing fans with a truly one-of-a-kind racing experience in a climate-controlled environment. Club One offers a premium menu, bar, theatre-style seating and a sight and sound observation deck on the roof for fans wanting to experience the race action outdoors. For more information on seating options at Atlanta Motor Speedway, fans can contact the AMS ticket office at (877) 9-AMS-TIX, (770) 946-4211, at atlantamotorspeedway.com or through an authorized Ticketmaster retail outlet.(AMS PR)(2-5-2007)

Camping Options Still Available At Atlanta: Camping options are still available for Atlanta Motor Speedway's March 16-18 Kobalt Tools 500 Nextel Cup Series race weekend, including a limited number of infield camping spaces. Tent camping spaces remain, in small quantity, on the infield in the High Speed Corral between Turns One and Two. Additionally, camping spaces remain in the East Turn, Ragu First Turn, Club One and Mid-State Family camping lots, outside of the AMS infield. Because of the limited quantities available, fans interested in purchasing a camping space are encouraged to act quickly. In addition to reserved camping opportunities at AMS, unreserved camping will also be available during the Kobalt Tools 500 event weekend. New for 2007, AMS now has an additional reserved camping lot located off Speedway Boulevard. Infield camping spaces, as well as tickets to the Kobalt Tools 500 race weekend, can be purchased by calling 770-946-4211, 877-9-AMS-TIX (1-877-926-7849), or online at www.atlantamotorspeedway.com.(AMS PR)(2-4-2007)

Atlanta Motor Speedway's Lap Sponsorship Packages Available: In one of the most exclusive ticket specials offered by Atlanta Motor Speedway, 325 lucky fans have a chance to put their name on a lap during the March 18 Kobalt Tools 500 Nextel Cup race. With Atlanta Motor Speedway's lap sponsorship packages, fans select a lap to sponsor in the Kobalt Tools 500 and in return will have their name and lap number published in the race program if purchased before the printing deadline of February 16. In addition, lap sponsors will receive a commemorative certificate of their lap, as well as two tickets to March 16 Georgia Power qualifying night followed by the American Commercial Lines 200 Craftsman Truck Series race and the Nicorette 300 Busch Series race on Saturday, March 17.
Lap sponsors also receive two coveted pre-race pit passes, allowing race fans ages 14 and over access to the sights and sounds of race morning. The pit area is open at select times Friday through Sunday and close 45 minutes before race time. For just $300, the lap sponsorship promises race fans memories of a lifetime, two great races and an up-close view of the weekend's pit action. Lap sponsorships and other great ticket packages for the Kobalt Tools 500 weekend can be purchased by calling the Atlanta Motor Speedway ticket office at (770) 946-4211, (877) 9-AMS-TIX.(AMS PR)(1-29-2007)

American Commercial Lines to sponsor Atlanta race: Atlanta Motor Speedway officials have announced that American Commercial Lines, an industry leader in marine transportation and manufacturing, will sponsor the speedway's Friday night March 16 Craftsman Truck Series race[9:00 pm/et]. The race, which will be held during the March 16-18 Nextel Cup race weekend, will be officially known as the American Commercial Lines 200. American Commercial Lines is one of the largest and most diversified marine transportation and manufacturing companies in the United States with more than 2,600 employees. The company has been operating on the United States Inland Waterways System since 1915.(Atlanta Motor Speedway PR)(1-29-2007)

Kobalt Tools to sponsor Cup race at Atlanta in March: Kobalt, an industry frontrunner in mechanics' tools available exclusively at Lowe's, will sponsor the 500-mile Nextel Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway on March 18, 2007. The race, held during the March 16-18 Nextel Cup race weekend, will be officially known as the Kobalt Tools 500. Starting at 2:00pm/et. "Bringing the Kobalt brand to life through our relationship with NASCAR, Team Lowe's Racing, and of course our partner Speedway Motorsports, Inc., is such an exciting opportunity for Lowe's," said Bob Gfeller, Lowe's senior vice president of marketing and advertising. "Lowe's will position the Kobalt Tools brand prominently beginning this March in Atlanta with a multi-month marketing program to drive awareness and trial of all Kobalt products sold at Lowe's. Beginning with the Kobalt Tools 500 followed by other events connected to racing through the Memorial Day weekend races at Lowe's Motor Speedway, we look forward to working with Speedway Motorsports to make the most of these activities for NASCAR racing fans." In conjunction with the race sponsorship, Jimmie Johnson and the Lowe's Racing Team will debut the #48 Kolbat Tools Chevy during the Atlanta race weekend [doesn't say if it is for the Busch or Cup race](AMS PR)(1-25-2007)

DRIVER/TEAM/TESTING NEWS

Tires to be watched at Atlanta: The tire story began to develop in the Craftsman Truck race Friday night, when many tires showed signs of blistering and chunking. The problem, if anything, became more pronounced during the Busch race, which puzzled some of the veterans. It rained here [Atlanta Motor Speedway] into Friday afternoon, leaving a green track. Normally, however, a race and a few practice sessions lay rubber in the track, making the asphalt more accommodating to the tires. Not so Saturday, some said. "We'd wear the right rears to the cords, and 10 laps at the end of the race—the tire wear kept getting worse as the race went on, which is unusual because it usually gets better," #17-Matt Kenseth said." Equally odd was that Goodyear beefed up the right-side tires in Trucks and Busch. It also will run a different, presumably harder, set on the Cup side Sunday. NASCAR anticipated the trouble, allowing Busch teams to purchase an extra, seventh set of tires and ordering a caution around lap 35 so teams could have a look. Throughout the race, however, teams pulled off tires worn to the nylon, especially on the outside shoulders. Cup teams, which made final practice before the Busch race, made long runs and noticed serious wear as well. "I'm nervous about tomorrow," #99-Carl Edwards said. "Our tires weren't holding up as well on the Cup car as they were on the Busch car today." Goodyear officials, who took much criticism for their Flintstone [Hard Tires....like rock] tires last week at Las Vegas, were ready with a defense Saturday, noting that Truck and Busch teams lost practice time to the rain Friday. "They has limited practice time, and a few didn't get dialed in," Goodyear rep Carole Swartz said after consulting with company engineers. "[Plus] the track was greener up high, and if they got high on the race track, the wear got higher." It's likely NASCAR will order some kind of stop for tire examination early in Sunday's race.(source: Ford Racing)(3-18-2007)

Robby Gordon can keep Motorola decals: Robby Gordon's #7 Ford can run Motorola decals on his car in today's race [at Atlanta Motor Speedway]. NASCAR vice president Jim Hunter said late Saturday that an agreement had been reached that will allow Gordon to advertise Motorola's digital audio player on his car. That solves the problem created by the original basic Motorola insignia, which was seen as a way of promoting wireless phone service. Nextel, the title sponsor of the Cup series, owns exclusive rights to promote wireless phone products. Only those wireless companies already in the sport when Nextel took over in 2004 can advertise competing products.(source: Atlanta Journal-Constitution), see the past news on Gordon having to remove the Motorola decals on my #7 Team News and Links page.MORE: on SPEED's RaceDay...Gordon's car was shown, the hood now has the big Motorola logo on the hood and the name on the quarter panels, under each it reads "Digital Audio Players".(3-18-2007)

Robby has a sponsor for Atlanta UPDATE forced to pull logos: Add another cellphone company to the NASCAR mix. Verizon Wireless officials plan to announce today they will work with Motorola to sponsor Robby Gordon in the [#55] Busch Series. The first-time Busch sponsorship for both companies will begin with Saturday's Busch race at AMS. Motorola will also sponsor Gordon's Cup #7 Ford in the Kobalt Tools 500 on Sunday. The sponsorship also includes Busch races at Charlotte, Chicago and Texas.(Atlanta Journal-Constitution), see images of the scheme on the #7 Team Schemes page and 2007 Busch Series Schemes page.UPDATE: Robby Gordon is removing a Motorola logo from the hood of his #7 Ford at the request of NASCAR officials, but he says he doesn't understand how Motorola and Cup series sponsor Nextel are competitors. He also can't understand why the company can be an associate sponsor on the car, as it has been the three previous Nextel Cup races, but cannot move into a primary slot. "I'm having a hard time understanding how Nextel and Motorola are competitors because that's the reason we can't use the sponsorship," Gordon said. "They have been an associate sponsor on my car for the first three events, and they can remain as an associate sponsor on my car; they just can't be a primary sponsor on my car." Gordon said NASCAR officials told him that was the reasoning for the changes. NASCAR President Mike Helton said that Motorola is specifically listed among the companies barred from being a primary sponsor in the Nextel agreement, which gives Nextel (now Sprint) exclusivity among wireless providers as well as wireless handset manufacturers.
"It's a NASCAR decision, yes," Gordon said. "This is the first time I have ever been involved in something like this. I've never been told no [on] a sponsor because we never felt we've gone after a sponsor that wouldn't be approved. I didn't even imagine that Motorola wouldn't be approved. They're the official radio of everybody in the garage area. It's just mind-boggling, and I'm having a little bit of a hard time on it."
Gordon said he planned to use the sponsorship for two events. "We have a relationship with a competitor's cell phone company [Verizon] in the Busch Series, and we felt that with them in the Busch Series and Motorola strictly in the Cup series, there wouldn't be a conflict," he said. Motorola has a relationship with NASCAR as it is the primary vendor of Racing Radios, which provides two-way radio service for NASCAR at the track. Gordon said he was unaware of exactly how Motorola could be considered a competitor. "That's where a person like myself has a hard time because you go to the front page of Nextel.com and you find Motorola logos on there and Motorola phones on there, and it's just a bit confusing why we're having an issue with the race car being on the race track," Gordon said. Helton added that NASCAR - not Nextel - made the decision on the car, a decision that he said seemed fairly black-and-white. "NASCAR is the group that polices the sport, so it's NASCAR's role to approve paint designs, approve sponsors on cars, approve how sponsors utilize the paint designs on the cars to promote and activate their relationships," Helton said. Helton said that most of the times, these issues are handled before the car gets to the track. "There is a process in place where the paint scheme has to be approved ... there wasn't time to fix the car before it got here, but we have plenty of time here to correct things," he said.(SceneDaily.com)(3-16-2007)

Andretti to run the #37 at Atlanta: John Andretti will continue to drive the #37 Dodge at Atlanta with Huddle House as the sponsor. Contrary to earlier reports [initial entry list], Bill Elliott will not be driving the car. However, the team is still based out of the Elliott shop in Dawsonville, GA.(Race Week Media)AND Contrary to a number of published reports that originated from a media release issued by Huddle House on March 8, 2007,
former NASCAR Cup Champion Bill Elliott has not agreed to the reported three-race partnership that would put him in the #37 Huddle House Dodge for the Kobalt Tools 500 on March 18, Talladega on April 20, and the Coca-Cola 600 on May 27. The media release made the erroneous claim that Front Row Motorsports - owner of the #37 Dodge - and Huddle House had reached terms on a partnership in which the family restaurant franchise would serve as the primary sponsor of an Elliott-driven Dodge. Unfortunately, the media release was issued without the knowledge or participation of Bill Elliott Racing or any of its officers. Bill Elliott Racing sincerely apologizes to NASCAR fans around the world for any confusion this error may have caused. We certainly know how eager fans are to see Bill back on the race track, and we share in their enthusiasm.Elliott's Racing at AMS: Fans should be pleased to know that Bill Elliott is going to be racing in the final race of the Legends Winter Flurry series on Saturday, March 17th at the Atlanta Motor Speedway following the conclusion of the Nicorette 300 Busch Series event. Bill will be competing in the Thunder Roadster Division, while his son, Chase Elliott, will be racing in the Bandelero Division. Bill's nephew, Trey Poole will be competing in the Legends division.(Bill Elliott Racing/AMS PR)(3-15-2007)

Camping World to sponsor Wimmer at Atlanta; Bowyer at other races: Richard Childress Racing (RCR) and Camping World have agreed on a multi-pronged sponsorship agreement for three of RCR's Nextel Cup Series and Busch Series teams for 2007. Camping World, based in Bowling Green, Ky., is the world's largest supplier of RV accessories and camping equipment with over 65 retail outlets in key regional locations. The multi-team program will include: Scott Wimmer in the #33 Camping World Chevy at the March 18 Kobalt Tools 500 Nextel Cup Series event at Atlanta Motor Speedway; Clint Bowyer in the #07 Camping World Chevy at Nextel Cup Series events at New Hampshire International Speedway (July 1) and Pocono Raceway (Aug. 5); and Bowyer in the #2 Camping World Chevy in the Busch Series races at Phoenix (April 20), Talladega (April 28), the Camping World 200 at New Hampshire International Speedway (June 30) and Chicagoland Speedway (July 14). For more information go to campingworld.com.(Richard Childress Racing PR)(3-15-2007)

Wimmer first to run new Chevy engine: This weekend, Richard Childress Racing will be the first team to utilize Chevrolet's new R07 motor when Scott Wimmer hits the track with the #33 Holiday Inn Chevy on Friday afternoon at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Per NASCAR regulations, the R07 displaces a maximum of 358 cubic inches. In contrast to the SB2's "mirror port" cylinder heads, the R07's cylinder heads resemble production LS-series small-block cylinder heads with alternating intake and exhaust valves. While production small-block V-8 engines employ electronic fuel injection, the R07 port layout is optimized for the single four-barrel carburetor mandated by NASCAR. The R07's key technical advances over the SB2 include 4.500-inch cylinder bore centers (vs. 4.400 inches in the SB2), a raised camshaft that improves valvetrain dynamics, a new six-bolt head bolt pattern that reduces cylinder bore distortion, and a targeted cooling system that minimizes temperatures at critical locations. A cast camshaft tunnel, integral piston squirter galleries, and overhead oil feed galleries reduce engine assembly time. Relocating the fuel pump to the inboard side of the car and eliminating external oil and coolant lines enhance safety. RCR will be the first team in the Nextel Cup ranks to utilize Chevrolet's new engine combination.(RCR PR)(3-14-2007)

Triple at Atlanta for Bowyer: Clint Bowyer is scheduled to compete in all three NASCAR-sanctioned races this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway. In addition to his duties behind the wheel of the #07 DIRECTV HotPass Chevy on Sunday in the Nextel Cup race, he will race the Kevin Harvick Inc.-owned #2 Camping World Chevy Silverado in Friday night's Craftsman Truck Series event and the #2 BB&T Chevy Monte Carlo in Saturday's Nicorette 300 Busch Series race.(RCR PR)(3-14-2007)

Huddle House to sponor the #37 for three races: After sponsoring Bill Elliott's #37 Dodge throughout the Daytona 500 week of events, Huddle House, a 420-unit nationwide family restaurant franchise with deep ties to the South, was hungry for more. Huddle House, along with Front Row Motorsports, the owner of Bill Elliott's/John Andretti's #37 Dodge, have announced a partnership for the family restaurant franchise to serve as the primary sponsor of the car for the Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway on March 18; the Aaron's 499 at Talladega Superspeedway on April 29; and the Coca-Cola 600 at Lowe's Motor Speedway in Charlotte, NC on May 27. Huddle House, fresh off an infusion of funding from its recently announced $124 million acquisition by Allied Capital, has signed on as the
primary sponsor of NASCAR racing legend Bill Elliott and Mario Andretti's nephew John Andretti, giving the Huddle House brand extensive positive exposure to tens- of-millions of Americans who are known to be very loyal to the companies that sponsor their favorite drivers. As the primary sponsor of Bill Elliott's/John Andretti's #37 Dodge, the Huddle House logo will be detailed on the hood, trunk, bumper and inside the car, as well as patched onto the team jersey. As part of the sponsorship deal, Elliott's car has been officially renamed "The Huddle House Dodge" for all three of the upcoming races. Also, the Huddle House #37 Dodge will be featured at several Huddle House locations during an eight day tour of the car, beginning with a March 15-17 stop at the Locust Grove, GA location, 4830 Bill Gardner Pkwy.(PRN Newswire)(3-8-2007)

See the 2007 Team Chart, which has links to past news for each team and info on each team.

Irwin colors for McMurray at Atlanta: IRWIN Industrial Tools will be the primary sponsor the #26 Ford that Jamie McMurray drives this weekend in Atlanta, which marks the first of 11 races in which the IRWIN blue and yellow paint scheme will adorn McMurray's #26 machine. Atlanta is a special race for IRWIN Industrial Tools, as they are part of the Newell Rubbermaid Company, which is based in Atlanta.(Roush Racing), the next race for IRWIN is Martinsville on April 1st. See an image of the scheme on the #26 Team Schemes page.(3-16-2007)

Haas CNC Racing team swap sponsors for Atlanta: The #66 and #70 Haas CNC Racing Chevry Monte Carlo's will "swap" sponsors this weekend at Atlanta Motor Speedway. Johnny Sauter, whose primary sponsor is normally Yellow Transportation, will instead carry the Best Buy logos on his #70 entry this weekend. Jeff Green's #66 car, which usually carries a blue and yellow Best
Buy paint design, will instead be sponsored by Yellow Transportation. In the first five races of this year, Sauter's #70 team must qualify
for the event on time (being a new team with no 2006 owner's points). Sauter is three for three in his qualifying tries this season, but since
Green is guaranteed a spot in the race by virtue of finishing in the top-35 in points last season, the swap ensures that Yellow Transportation and its 200 guests attending the Atlanta event will be represented in Sunday's race.(Haas CNC Racing/GMR PR), see images of the schemes on my #66 Team Schemes page and #70 Team Schemes page.(3-15-2007)

Jackson Hewitt scheme for Biffle at Atlanta: This weekend at Atlanta, #16-Greg Biffle will run a black and red Jackson Hewitt paint scheme.(Roush Racing PR)(3-15-2007)

AMP on the #41 at Atlanta: AMP Energy Drink will adorn the upper-rear quarter panels of the #41 Target Dodge that Reed Sorenson drives at Atlanta. AMP, a product of PepsiCo, Inc., is based on the original flavor of Mountain Dew, enhanced with energy boosting ingredients.(Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates PR)(3-15-2007)

Special CAT scheme for Blaney at Atlanta: The #22 Caterpillar Toyota Dave Blaney drives will be adorned with a new paint scheme this weekend at Atlanta featuring the new D6T and D6K Track-Type Tractors. The Cat D6T and D6K Track-Type Tractors are the new line of mid-size machines built for applications ranging from site preparation to finish grading. Each machine is quipped with ACERT Engine Technology, which optimizes engine performance while meeting emission regulations for off-road applications. The AccuGrade Laser Grade Control System is a high technology earthmoving tool that allows dozer operators to grade and fill with increased accuracy without the use of traditional stakes or grade checkers. The SystemOne Undercarriage will deliver the longest life and greatest reliability of any undercarriage system available.(Bill Davis Racing)(3-14-2007)

Bowyer to run DirecTV hotpass scheme at Atlanta: Richard Childress Racing (RCR) and DIRECTV, primary sponsor of Clint Bowyer's #07 Chevrolet for six races on the 2007 Nextel Cup Series schedule, will unveil a new paint scheme for Bowyer's #07 entry at next weekend's Kobalt Tools 500 at Atlanta Motor Speedway. This unique paint scheme will prominently feature the logo for the
innovative new NASCAR HotPass service, exclusively available on DIRECTV. The new paint scheme is well-timed for DIRECTV as Bowyer continues an impressive start in his second year in NASCAR's top division. It also coincides with a strong overall start for RCR to the 2007 season. All three RCR entries are currently in the top six of the Nextel Cup Series championship point standings. Additionally, Kevin Harvick captured victory in spectacular fashion in last month's season-opening Daytona 500, the second Great America Race
victory in RCR's storied history. More information is available on www.directv.com/hotpass.(RCR PR)(3-11-2007)

Kobalt Tools To Sponsor Johnson in Cup, Busch Races: Kobalt Tools will sponsor the #48 Lowe's Chevy in two of Jimmie Johnson's Nextel Cup Series races as well as all three of his Busch Series races in 2007. Kobalt Tools will also be the title sponsor for the March 18 race at Atlanta Motor Speedway now called the Kobalt Tools 500. The Kobalt Tools paint scheme will appear on Johnson's #48 Nextel Cup car at Atlanta Motor Speedway on March 18 and at Texas Motor Speedway on Nov. 4. Johnson will race the Kobalt Tools paint scheme in Busch Series races at Lowe's Motor Speedway on May 26 and Oct. 12 as well as California Speedway on Sept. 1. Kobalt Tools is an industry frontrunner in hand tools, mechanics' tools, tool accessories and just recently introduced the Portable CO2 Regulator which is a portable CO2 tank that connects to any standard pneumatic device for power and strength on-the-go.(GMR Marketing/Lowes Racing PR)(3-5-2007)